November 4, 2001

Northwest NICET Newsletter
================================================================
Volume 1 Issue 19 11-4-2001
================================================================
News for Fire Protection Engineering Technicians
------------------------------------------------
Contents:
---------
- News
- Tech Stuff
- Test Dates
- Class Schedule
- Administrivia
================================================================
NEWS
================================================================
I attended the WBFAA Trade Show in Spokane last Friday and had a lot of
fun. It was my first experience on the vendor side of the booth and I
enjoyed it. Other vendors, including competitors, were very helpful and
accommodating. As always, Stella McDonald did a 'Stellar' job of
organizing the event and making everyone feel welcome. Thank you Stella!
I look forward to future events.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I'm pleased to announce that Dean Reed of Dean Reed and Associates will
be providing my NICET seminar in NW and NE Washington State. Dean has a
lot of experience in our industry and will do an exemplary job in
providing Washingtonians with CEU seminars designed to help prepare you
for NICET certification. I will include Dean's class schedule in future
issues of this newsletter. You can contact Dean at mailto:bubba@oz.net.
Welcome aboard Dean!
================================================================
TECH STUFF
================================================================
Circuit Integrity
-----------------
NFPA 72-1999 1-5.8.1 tells us that *all* circuits extending from the
fire alarm control panel shall be monitored for integrity such that a
single open or single non-simultaneous ground fault is indicated within
200 seconds. There is no reference to Class or Style of circuit,
however.
NFPA 72-1999 3-4.2 tells us that IDC, SLC, and NAC shall be designated
by Class or Style or both, depending upon the circuit's level of fault
tolerance.
NFPA 72-1999 3-4.3.1 tells us that the Class or Style of circuits shall
be determined by an evaluation based upon the circuit performance
requirements arrived at using engineering judgment.
NFPA 72-1999 3-4.2.1 (1) Circuits capable of reporting an alarm
condition during a single open or single non-simultaneous ground fault
shall be designated as Class A.
NFPA 72-1999 3-4.2.1 (2) Circuits that are *not* able to report an alarm
condition during a single open or single non-simultaneous ground fault
shall be designated as Class B.
In both Class A and Class B, the requirement to report a single open or
single non-simultaneous ground fault prevail.
These references demonstrate the performance requirements of NFPA 72; a
description of what is required of circuit integrity but not how to
provide for it. Manufacturers, in this case, have provided the solution
for these requirements:
Class A; Devices are able to report an alarm condition with a single
fault:
+------------+
| |
| F + +---+--------+--------------+
| A | S S |
| C - +---+--------+--------+ |
| P | | |
| | | http://www.nicet.org/tests.shtml
================================================================
CLASS SCHEDULE
================================================================
Clackamas Community College is sponsoring a 16-hour Saturday
Seminar(r)in November:
--> 11-10-2001 8am - 5pm NICET Certification application process and
Fire Alarm Systems Level I Element Review.
--> 11-17-2001 8am - 5pm Fire Alarm Systems Level II Element Review.
Visit http://www.lerc.org to register.
================================================================
ADMINISTRIVIA
================================================================
I will see some of you in Spokane later this week at the WBFAA trade
show.
Send your contributions, suggestions, comments, and questions to -->
mailto:TheBakerGroup@home.com
To unsubscribe, click the reply button and type 'unsubscribe' in the
subject line.
Have fun!
Mike http://go.to./baker
================================================================
NW NICET Newsletter Copyright (c) 2001 Michael B. Baker